Electrical cut-out



1933- c. MATTHEWS ET AL 1,899,915

ELECTRICAL CUT-OUT Filed March 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 2

p? 23 h,,L/IJ EQIW,MZQ 5 v 4% In Feb. 28, 1933. c. MATTHEWS ET AL 1,899,915

ELECTRICAL CUT-OUT Filed March 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 28, 1933 cta tm ,Ihm'rrHEws-Ann 'rrino'nonn BIRKENMAIER, or s'r. LOUIS, MISSOURI; AS-

- 1 In the." accompanymg 1 srenon's TO w; mMATm ws T IoN OF MISSOURI PATE OF E ELECTRICAL GUT-OUT Application filed March 2, 1932. Serial No. 596,186.

I 1 This inverrtion relates I to electrical cutouts, and with regard to certain more specific features, to cut-outs of this class incorporating both switch and fuse features.

' Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a cut-out comprisinga cartridge having terminal engaging elements adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with line terminals; the provision of a cartridge of the class described which carries a tensioned fuse link adapted to improvedly break a circuit by softening under overload conditions; and the provision of an organization of parts. associatedwith said cartridge adapted to effect circuit opening upon manual operation, without the necessity for removing said terminal engaging elements from said line ter- .minals, thereby preventing arcing between line terminals and terminal engaging elements; the provision of 'adevice of the class described which prevents arcing at any critical contact or holding face, and one 7 in which application and removal of links is simple and eifective.- Other objects will be in part obvious and in partEpointed out hereinaften. n I

' .The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinationsof elements, features ofconstruction, and arrangements .of partswhich will be exemplified in the struct'ures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in'the-following claims.

drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possibleembodiments of the invention,

" Fig.1 is a front elevation of a cartridge,

partly sectioned to-show certain details;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the intermediate action when a fuse link is -the responding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 8, there is shown at numeral 1 a cartridge having parallel-faced, terminal-engagmg elements 3'and 5, composed of a suitable conducting metal such as bronze and adapted to cooperate with line terminals 7 and Q, the latter being in a circuit, said line terminals .7 and 9 comprising spring clips sidewardly engaging said parallel-faced terminal-engaging elements. In order that the terminal-engaging elements 3 and 5 may be conveniently applied to the line terminals 7 and 9, the lower'terminal engaging ele ment 5 is provided with gudgeons 11 cooperating with suitable socket extensions 13 of the line terminal 9 for efiecting relative rotation between the cartridge 1 and the support 15' of line terminals 7 and 9. Further details in connection with the above matters may be found'in the patent application of Messrs. Lester P. Boll and Theodore Birkenmaier' for Hanger, Serial No. 415,533, filed December 20, 1929 (file 2157).

. From Fig. 1 it will be noted that the cartridge 1 comprises a tube 17 composed of insulating material such as fibre, to which is attached the upper terminal engaging element 3, the element 3 closing the upper end of the tube. The tube 17 (Figs. 2 and 3) passes through the lower terminal engaging element 5 and is affixed thereto, as by a set screw (not shown).

The upper terminal engaging element 3 is hollow and includes an upper lateral extension 19 having threaded therein from one side a stationary anvil piece 21, the latter being provided with a. winged head 23 so that it may be manually turned, or-to be CORPORATION, OF S'lL-I LOUIS, MISSO'URI, ACOBPORA- turned by the slotted end of a tool 41 such as shown in Fig. 9.

Opposite the anvil 21 and in the extension 19 is located a slidable clamping member 25 which is normally spring pressed toward the anvil 21 by means of a spring 27, said spring 27 reacting against the end of the extension 19. A stem 29 from said clamp member 25 reaches outwardly from the interior of the extension 19 and is pivoted at 31 to an operating handle 33. The operating handle 33 is pivoted at 35 to an ear 37 of the extension 19. The lever 33 has a hooked end 39 adapted to be engaged by the hooked end of said tool 41 shown in Fig. 9. Said tool also serves the function of engaging with an eye 43 for pulling down the cartridge so that its terminal engaging elements leave the line terminals upon hinging at the gudgeons 11.

It will be understood that a suitable lostmotion is provided at the hinged joint 31 so as to permit of slidably moving the clamp 25 when the lever 33 is moved. There is also provided a stop ps1 45 in the extension 29 exteriorly of the cartridge to limit the leftward movement of the clamp 25, as shown in Fig.

5. This limitation is placed upon the movement of said clamp 25 when the anvil is removed or threaded toward the left.

Interiorly of the terminal engaging element 3 there is also pivoted a spring clip 47, which, when a fuse link or the like such as is shown at numeral 49, is held by the anvil 21 and clamping member 25, lies as shown in Fig. 1, that is, slightly touching the link 49. As shown in Figs. 1 and 6, the clip 47 has an extension 51 which is above its pivoting ears 53 (the part of the clip for holding the link 49 being below said ears). The upper extension 51 of the clip cooperates with a notch 59 of the clamp 25 (see also Fig. 7).

Thus the fuse link 49 is adapted to be held clamped between the anvil 21 and the clamp piece 25, as shown in Fig. 1, this being due to spring action, the clip 47 engaging the link 49 and pressing the same against a suitable surface 61 of the terminal engaging element 3. The wiper spring 47 is economically made and mounted so as to be readily replaceable after injury due to arcing. As shown in Fig. 2, a reduced section 63 is adjacent to, and at least partially below the region at which the clip 47 presses the link against the surface 61. The purposes of this will appear.

The link 49 passes downwardly through the tube 17 and out of the lower end of said tube where it is provided with a tension by means of the'following construction The tensioning construction comprises a U- shaped contact clip 65 adapted to be held under a bridge 67 of the lower terminal engaging element 5, this being done by means of a tightening screw 69. Incidentally, the U-shape of the clip 65 prevents the unscrewing of the screw 69 so far that it can be dropped on the ground by a workman operating in a diflicult position. This clip 65 also permits the adaptation of the invention to other tubular cartridges than those herein described.

Attached to the clip 65 is a length of leaf spring 71 composed of conducting bronze or the like and having at its lower end ears 73 between which ears 73 is hinged'a lever clamp piece 75. The link 49 passes out from the lower opening 77 of the tube 17 and is threaded under a holding finger 79 of the clamp 75 and then passes to the upper face of said clamp as indicated at numeral 81, where it is held to said upper face, by means of a crimp 83 at the end of said spring 71, the crimp being beyond the ear 73.

After the link 49 has been threaded into position, as described, the end 85 being pulled in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 2, it may then be released, whereupon the tension in the spring 71 automatically clamps the link 49 at the point 83 and tends to pull the same out of the tube; but it is resisted by the clamping action of the anvil 21 and clamp 25 at the upper end of the link 49.

Thus the conditions shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 8, are attained, the cartridge then being loaded with the fuse link 49.

Any one of several contingencies may then occur:

For instance, an overload may occur in the line, whereupon the fuse may blow at that part of the reduced section 63 which is below the point of contact with clip 47 and be suddenly pulled from the tube 17 by the action of the spring 71 as shown in Fig. 3. The withdrawing action of the lower end of the link 49 insures a positive break of the resulting arc and a definite clearing of the line.

As shown in Fig. 3, when the fuse link blows, or is loosened at the upper end, as will be described, the straightening of the spring 71 tends to withdraw the link and at the same time, the link is loosened from the spring clamp 83, inasmuch as the bending moment on tht tension lever 75 is released. Thus, after the fuse has blown, or has been released, manually at the upper contacts, it is automatically released by the crimp 83 and drops to the ground.

To re-load the cartridge with another link 49, the wings 23 are manually turned counterclockwise, thereby threading back the anvil 21 (Fig. 5). This may be done by means of the slot 50 provided on the tool 41, Fig. 9. This causes the clamp 25 to advance under pressure of the spring 27 to the position shown in said Fig. 5 thereby rotating the clip 47' counter-clockwise and opening a gap between the surface 61 and said clip 47. It will be seen that the lower end of clip 47 is provided with a sloping guide lip 87, thereby facilitating entry and guidance of the end of the link in feeding it through the tube 17 and to its position between the anvil 21 and the clamp 25.

Thus it will be seen that unscrewing the anvil 21 results in the clearing of the anvil out of the way, and forcing the clip 47 into a noninterfering position. Also, the clip 47 aids in guiding the end of the link into place. The clamp 25 is prevented from proceeding too far to the left by means of the stop pin 45. After the fresh link 49 is in proper position, the anvil 21 is screwed in again, thereby clamping the upper end of said link between anvil 21 and the spring-pressed clamp 25. At the same time, the movement of the clamp 25 to the right causes clockwiserotation of the clip 47 and a pressure by means of the end of said clip against the fuse link 49 and against said surface 61.

A second alternative of operation is that the normally or overloaded circuit is to be opened without the fuse blowing, that is, to be manually opened. This can be done, either by pulling open the cartridge 1, by hooking the end of the tool into the eye 43 and withdrawing the terminal engaging elements 3 and 5 from the line terminals 7 and 9. This is the usual method. This, however, is quite disadvantageous in many instances where arcing occurs between the line terminals and the terminal engaging elements, as u'pon overload circuit conditions. The line terminals and engaging elements are-burned by said action and often the entire switch is destroyed.

We have provided the linkage above described whereby the tool 41 may be applied to the hook 39 and the latter pulled down without withdrawing the cartridge from the line terminals, thereby withdrawing the clamp to the right (Fig. 4). This results in releasing the upper end of the link (which in this instance needs not be fusible) 49 and giving the clip 47 a clockwise rotation, thereby forcing it into stronger contact with the link 49'. Thus, the link 49 is forced into engagement with the surface 61. However, the friction between the clip 47 and the surface 61 is not enough to hold the link against the "pulling action of the spring 71. Thus,the link 49 is snapped from the tube. No arcing occurs from the end of the link to the anvil 21 and or the clamp 25. The arcing that occurs, does electrical pressure contact with fuse link is not at said surface 61, but at the surfaces of the anvil 21 and the clamp 25, it being of importance, as is known, to maintain the'latter surfaces smooth and clean.

It will be seen from the above that when the circuit is opened, either by means of the fuse blowing or by, mechanically releasing the same or a non-fusible equivalent, that there is a quick break due to the mechanical action of the spring 71. Furthermore, the operator is assured of burning no electrical contacts that are depended upon for making the circuit. Also, the exterior contact at the clips 7 and 9 are protected from injury.

It will be understood that the tool 41 comprises an insulating handle 40, whereby an operator may perform the said functions while the switch is in normal operation.

Among the advantages of the invention are the provision of a link which springs out and not only functions as a fuse link, but as a disconnecting switch when desired. Furthermore, when it functions as a disconnecting switch, the switch may be opened instantly under load and/or overload, inasmuch as any resulting are is not injurious to the apparatus.

The use of a tube surrounding the link 49 is of advantage. The arc'is thus caused to occur inside the tube so that the de-ionization effect of the horn fibre of the tube assists in the extinguishment of the arc.

The terms fuse link or link are used herein to designate electrically conducting members which may either be fusible at a reduced section such as indicated at numeral 63; or, it is to be understood, that the term link may extend to include any conduction which does not normally fuse but is used I In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of. the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carry ing'out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

IVe claim: k

1. In a switch, line terminals, terminal engaging e ements adapted to be engaged and disengaged therewith, a tube joining said terminal engaging elements to form a cartridge, a fuse link electrically joining said terminal engaging elements and passing through said tube, means for tensioning said link and means associated with one of said terminal engaging elements for releasing said link at the point of contact with the terminal engaging element, and means for transferring any resulting arc to a point remote from thepoint of fastening of the link to said terminal engaging element.

2. A switch cartridge comprising terminal engaging elements, a fuse link connecting said elements, means for tensioning said link,- and means for releasing said link from one of said elements while the cartridge is in operating condition, said last-named means comprising a spring-pressed clamp for holding one end of said link, a tensioning means for holding the other end of said link, and means for manually releasing the link at said spring-held clamp. p

3. A switch cartridge comprising terminal engaging elements, a, fuse link connecting said elements, means for tensioning said link, means for releasing said link from one of said elements while the cartridge is in operating condition, and means for transferring the resulting are from the point at which the link was held to a point remote therefrom. 4. In apparatus of the class described, a cartridge comprising terminal engaging elements, a tube connecting said elements, said tube having an open end, a link passing through said tube and emerging from said open end, spring means exteriorly of said open end adapted to tension said link, means for holding said link at its other end, said last-named means being manually releasable while the apparatus" is in normal operation,

said spring means being adapted to withdraw the link from the tube.-

5. In apparatus of the class described, a cartridge comprising terminal engaging elements, a tube connecting said elements, said tube'having an open end, a link passing through said tube and emerging from said open end, spring meansexteriorly of sald open end adapted to tension said link, man- ,ually releasable means for holding said link at its other end, and automatic means associated with said manually releasable means for transferring any arc due to releasing the link to a point remote from where the lmk was clamped.

6. Inapparatus of the class described, a cartridge comprising terminal engaging elements, a tube connecting said elements, said tube having an open end, a link passing through said tube and emerging from said open end, spring means exteriorly of sald open end adapted to tension said link, and manually releasable holding means for said link at its other end, said link having a reduced section adjacent said holding means and automatici means associated with said manually releasable means for transferring any are due to releasing the link to a point remote from where the link was clamped,

, said last-named means being also adapted to facilitate feeding of the link into its posicartridge comprising terminal engaging ele ments, a tube connecting said elements, said tube having an open end, a link passing through said tube and emerging from said open end, spring means exteriorly of said open end adapted to tension said link, and manually releasable holding means for said link at its other end, said link having a reduced section adjacent" said holding means and automatic means associated with said manually releasable means for transferring any are due to releasing the link to a point remote from where the link was clamped, said last-named means being also adapted to facilitate feeding of the link into its position to be clamped, and to reduce the tension on at least 1part of said reduced section.

8. n apparatus of the class described, a

pair of terminal engaging elements, a tube for holding one end of the link against withdrawal, said last-named means comprising a movable anvil, spring-pressed means adapted to be forced toward said anvil to hold the end of the link, and manually operable means for releasing the clamping action of the spring-pressed means.

5?. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of terminal engaging elements,va tube connecting the same, a link passing through the tube, spring tensioning means adapted to withdraw the link from the tube, means for holding one end of the link against withdrawal, said last-named means comprising a movable anvil, spring-pressed means adapted to be forced toward said anvil to hold the end of the link, manually operable means for releasing the clamping action of the springpressed means and means oscillated by said clamping means adapted to frictionally hold said link at a point remote from its point of clamping.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a pair of terminal engaging elements, a tube connectlng the same, a link passing through the tube, spring tensioning means adapted to withdraw the link from the tube, means for holding one end of the link against withdrawal, said last-named means comprising a movable anvil, spring-pressed means adapted to be forced toward said anvil to hold the end of the link, and manually operable means for.

Withdraw the link from the tube, means for holding one end of the link against with drawal, said last-named means comprising a movable anvil, spring-pressed means adapted to be forced toward said anvil to hold the end of the link, manually operable means for re leasing the clamping action of the springpressed means, means oscillated by said clamping means adaptedto frictionally hold said link at a point remote from its point of being clamped, and adapted to release the link when said anvil is loosened, but frictionally holding the link tighter than normal when said clamping means is loosened.

12. In apparatus of the class described, a cartridge having a closed head, a link, means for holding said link in saidclosed head, said last-named means comprising an anvil adapted to be loosened, means for clamping said link against said anvil automatically, manual means exteriorly operable for releasing the automatic hold on said link, and means operable by said automatic means to frictionally hold the link at a point remote from its point of being clamped when clamped, and when not clamped being adapted to effect a guide for, feeding a fresh link into clamping position.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a

cartridge having a closed head, a link, means for holding said link in said closed head, said last named means comprising an anvil resilient means clamping said link against said anvil automatically, manual means exteriorly operable for releasing the automatic hold on said link, and means operable by said automatic means to frictionally hold the linkat a point remote from its point of being clamped when clamped, and when not clamped being adapted to effect a guide for feeding a fresh link into clamping position.

14; A switch comprising terminal engaging elements, conducting means connecting said elements, means for tensioning said con 7 ducting means andmeans for manually -releasing the conducting means from one of said terminal engaging elements and subsequently electrically disconnecting said conducting means from the other terminal engaging element.

15. A switch comprising line terminals,

,.t erminal engaging elements, an enclosure having at least one opening and upon which said engaging elements are mounted, a conductor joining said engaging elements and positioned in said enclosure, means tensioning the conductor and -mean's for normally manually releasing the conductor while electrified from one of said engaging elements and projecting the same through said opening from the enclosure.

16. A switch comprising line terminals,-

vterminal engaging elements, an enclosure having at least one opening and upon which said engaging elements are mounted, a .con- 

